Do you know that in simply the time it takes to enter an handle right into a navigation app, a automobile touring at 25 mph can cowl the size of 4 soccer fields?
Navigation methods are simply one of many quite a few causes of distracted driving. From cell telephones to in-vehicle applied sciences, distractions like texting, calls, and even hands-free gadgets can divert a driver’s consideration, posing vital dangers on the highway.
Social media provides one other layer of distraction, with platforms like Fb, Instagram, and Snapchat tempting drivers to interact even whereas behind the wheel. Shockingly, research reveal that as much as seven in 10 individuals use their smartphones whereas driving, and 4 in 10 have interaction with social media whereas on the highway. Some even consider they will safely shoot movies and take selfies whereas driving.
With as many as one in three U.S. adults admitting to utilizing know-how whereas driving, the prevalence of distracted driving is alarming, and plenty of of those drivers are probably amongst your staff.
Does your organization have a strong distracted driving coverage in place? If not, listed below are 5 compelling causes to contemplate implementing one.
#1: Distracted Driving Kills.
“Distracted driving” is outlined as driving whereas doing one other exercise that takes your eyes off the highway, your fingers off the wheel, or your thoughts off driving.
In 2015, 391,000 individuals had been injured in motorcar crashes involving a distracted driver, and three,477 individuals had been killed. In keeping with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, every day within the U.S., roughly 9 individuals are killed and greater than 1,000 injured in crashes which can be reported to contain a distracted driver.
By establishing, implementing, and imposing a distracted driving coverage, you’ll be able to enhance the security of your staff, in addition to others on the highway.
#2: Distracted Driving Is Unlawful.
Know the legal guidelines in your state. Distracted driving isn’t simply harmful — it’s unlawful. Most states have distracted driving legal guidelines on the books, and so they’re punishable by substantial fines and even jail time, relying on the severity of the offense.
In some states, it’s unlawful to make use of a cellphone whereas behind the wheel — even when it’s hands-free. Texting whereas driving is prohibited in most states, and there are legal guidelines prohibiting writing and studying texts, e-mails, and immediate messages whereas on the highway. Many states additionally prohibit drivers below a sure age from utilizing any handheld machine whereas driving.
The Federal Motor Service Security Administration (FMCSA) prohibits all business drivers from utilizing hand-held cellular gadgets.
#3: Distracting Driving Can Value Your Firm Huge Bucks.
The reality is, when your drivers are responsible of distracted driving, they’re opening your organization as much as main liabilities. When an worker is on firm time or driving an organization automobile, it’s the corporate that’s in the end accountable.
In keeping with the Community of Employers for Visitors Security (NETS), there have been 1,600 individuals killed in on-the-job crashes in the USA in 2016. The price per incident to the father or mother firm was greater than $671,000, along with the incalculable emotional prices. Some 239,000 individuals had been injured in on-the-job driving crashes, at an organization price of over $68,000 per incident. This price consists of the direct prices related to every incident, in addition to associated well being advantages and different legal responsibility prices.
As well as, 700,000 autos had been broken on the job in 2016, at a mean price to firms of $24,000 per incident.
The underside line is that this: If an worker is concerned in a crash whereas driving an organization automobile and even whereas utilizing an organization cellphone, the employer is in the end accountable.
#4: Distracted Driving Is Dangerous for Enterprise.
In case your drivers are distracted as a result of they’re dealing with enterprise or customer support calls from behind the wheel, they aren’t doing their finest to characterize your organization.
Not solely does it look dangerous if an worker is driving an organization automobile whereas speaking on the cellphone — and even worse, standing beside an organization automobile concerned in a crash, holding up site visitors in a busy intersection — however when drivers are distracted, they aren’t giving the mandatory consideration to their jobs.
That mentioned, make certain your managers and management aren’t a part of the issue. Make it a coverage that staff can’t name or textual content drivers once they’re out on the highway, and don’t enable drivers to simply accept calls or texts. As an alternative, contemplate a coverage of “no private electronics whereas behind the wheel,” and prohibit the usage of navigation methods to when the autos are in park.
#5: Distracted Driving Is a Dangerous Driving Behavior.
By implementing a distracted driving coverage in your firm, you’re additionally serving to reinforce secure driving habits for workers once they aren’t on firm time.
One of the best coverage is for all drivers to regulate their mirrors, temperature, seats, radios, and navigation methods earlier than they put their autos within the drive. Drivers also needs to flip off cell telephones and put them out of attain to keep away from the urge to reply them or learn and reply to texts.
Make the hazards of distracted driving clear to your staff, in order that the following time they get of their autos, they’ll have already got secure driving habits in place.
To be taught extra about how you can implement a distracted driver coverage and enhance driver security in your fleet, contact our driver security coaching specialists immediately.